History

In the beginning...
It was a cold winter in 1985, when 4 Japanese ice carvers came to Ottawa to create an impressive
large-scale ice carving display. It captured the imagination of the residents and visitors of Canada’s
National Capital Region, as well as the National Capital Commission’s winter festival event organizers.
Together, the NCC and the Ottawa ice carvers leading the 1985 ice carving project, worked to establish
Canada’s first ice carving competition for the NCC’s Winterlude, known as the Crystal Garden International Ice Carving Competition.

…and now the present.
For over 20 years, CICS has been working in partnership with the NCC to organize the Crystal Garden International
Ice Carving Competition as well as exploring new ways to feature Ice Art through activities that give the public an enriching
and intimate experience with ice. To this day, Crystal Garden continues to attract record crowds during Winterlude and is often
chosen as one of the top sites to visit during the festivities.

With their experience both in the technical and logistical requirements for large-scale ice carving competitions
as well as their artistic knowledge, CICS members are highly regarded amongst the international ice carving circles and are
often invited to International Ice Carving events around the world or to work in partnership with Master Ice Carvers.

Board of Directors & CICS Members

About the Ice Carvers…CICS members come from a wide background of experiences – from culinary chefs to ice carving company owners to computer
software programmers. All share a passion for the ephemeral magic of ice. The following is a selection of the achievements
of CICS members: